Mixing machine



Jan. 22, 1935.

F. x. LAUTERBUR El AL MIXING MACHINE Filed July so, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FRANK X. LAUTE'fiBl/R ron Aw ,1. LAUTERJUA' .QQM

A TTORNEYJ Jan. 22, 1935.

F. X. LAUTERBUR MIXING MACHINE Filed July 30. 1931 El Al. 1,988,561

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS FRANK/Y. LA 7ZfiBU/i [own/v0.1. LAUTERHUR ATTORNEYS Z .1935- F.- x.; LAUT ERBUR Er AL 1,933,561

' MIXING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS FRANK x. LAUTERBUR 0 w/mw a. Mun-neon ATTORNEYJ,

5 In the art there has heen considerable.-develop=.; ment in mixingnmachines particularlymadapted Patented Jan. 22, 1935 erbur,-

Our invention relates totmixing machines -andw particularlyto such machinesas-are useds-ingthe a.

mixingnot baking. ingredients.suchas doughrand. v batter;

for the ,mixing. ,of, dougnwithout s'ufiicient frictionalk heatbeingfldeveloped as to cause rover-o .v

heating of the .doug hebatchi- 1 In our ,PatentiNoL 1,651,092, of. November 2 9, 1927,1we. have disclosed a mixer which arcuate; agitator 4 arms. are

mountedin astaggered arrangement onsupport- I n V showing an abutment with battle 7 attached andwin; if

ing hubs soithat theragitator canbel operated at high speed while exertinga thQIOugh mixing without tearing-the ;doug h. E'urther, in our Patent No. -1,67 2; 26 4, of: J unelfi, 1928.," we; have disclosed a-= novel process inewhich the. dough ,mass is so broken and diverted during the mixing operas. tion that atcoolingair space .is;.formed-;at.-a-.cer- 1- tain stage of theamixing operation-which -ma U terialhn retards overheating z0f;' the ,dough. :The; improvement in mixing amachinesgias set "forth, herein, has 'as its object refinements in the gen- 7. eral. art ofmixing in;which frictional overheating",

' is;avoided :and-inwhichthe appatatus is adjust able for rvarying-= the r-mixing conditions .sothat difierent ty s of: dough may be advantageously;

ing a- U-shapeibaseqwallsl,whichtcontinues'up-u prepared.-- a Another object; ofpur invention-isithe provision-a of dough 7 mixing apparatus; l in which: artificial cooling,aas.by-.water; brine,or,cooling-gas; may be: portion 3 y from which thejwall extendsaoutward! accomplished ;with rthe cooling: area. r distributed over a wide surfaceiarea of thebowl walls :It is 7 our object in ;the shaperof our bowl walls to-prorvide abutments; which swillw direct the movements of the -mixeddngredients so:thatafrictionalsover-ra-z heating will be.avoided. r-f- 7 Another objectrisfto provide aimixi ng bowl having an ,a-butmentsto. which attached a! bafiiea which may-be adjusted toivaryz'the diverting ao-r tion on the dou h-being mixed/and whichealtersthe resultantiaction' ofthe abutment according to its position fwithr-relation tmthe sideswalls .of zthe mixing bowl; y} a Another object istoprovide anabutmentin thesurface of the mix-ing bowl so that]. cooling; mediums can be employed directly. in contact w with the surfacez-oi the abutment .andV-thereb y i keep. the surf ace contacting with: the dough :at a relatively low-temperaturea- I l A still further, object of our-invention is, to pro videa general utilityamixer. .whichwill he adapted A for various types of mixing-worksin which =differentphysical ,conditions;.of. the ingredients are -i encountered and in which the mixing apparatus. 1

her ,from mixing. operation l abutment ,emember (is included. in the mix-ing may be inexpensively? constructed, andioperatedal A The, above objects; and ,othen objects tmwhic'h \L reference 'will' be made inthe ensuingdescription we accomplish Javflthatfcertain coinbinationandp arrangement of parts, of which :we havefshown a 5 preferred e mbodimen .-Referring to thedrawings:. I Figure 1 is avertical sectionalviewofounnewm type of mixer:. t

u e v-z' s avet c fiedtype of-mixer f a I j r Figures 3. is v a vertical sectional-view ot a mixer s Figurea'is a;fragmentarysectionaLview show: v ing the-i bafiie turned.- :to a position so: that the t 1 such position as to exclude the :abutmentimerna,

Figure 5: is-airagmentarysectional elevationl'of 2 the 'abutment membergand the means for attach-1.1: in t eb -w" v i I Figure 6 is a fragmentary lend elevation show-i ing .the means forrotatingtherbaffler- -91 Figure-{I isea sectional-selevatiorrwshowing hows 5 the abutment is iormed in-the sideiofrthe bowls I In Figure l'wve-have shown a, mixingsbowlahav wardlymn one =side in-a substantially; straight? wall 2, and is formed;in an inwardly convex" hen and upwardly; "as indicatedsat? 4.? A 'jacket wall. 5 issecuredtmtheupwardlybent portion :4'gzand; thei'walln-5i extendsvintthe Ueshape'd formationsizv; around'ithefhase ofrthezbowlfo'rming the jacket- 3. compartment l'I'hefcover :for itheibowldstin dicated. at, 7, having 'flange portions 8 which ex- 1 v tend downintothe bowl to prevent material from w 1 splashing out during the mixing operation The bowl illustrated is 'preferably of the t ype -which may 'be rocked on its axis to cause itto pour-out---- the contents, duringwhichoperation the 7 cover- "is preferably elevated so that the*flangeportions i' 8 will-clear the side wallsofthebbwl duringthis '15 operation. The end -:-wa11s of the-bowl will be theusual straight wallsconforming in shape to thecross sectional shape of the side and ,bottomf,

Walls. 1 As disclosed in" our Patent. o. 1,651,092. we; so

. have shown an "agitator; having 'a central .jdrivj ing shaft 9, and with spiders 10 at the ends which support. the agitator. .)o1acles ll, 12 andr lb whioh,-. as disclosed in our.ipatent are of the type in which a I the contours of the bladesionparsf extend innit-R ferent planes so as to avoid carrying of the dough mass. 7

The mixing machine illustrated in Figure 1 has the agitator rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and the path of travel of the dough mass is upwardly and outwardly from whichever bar is in the position indicated by the bar 11, in which position the centrifugal force affects the dough mass to cause it to be thrown upwardly, where it strikes the braking surface 3, to rise along the straight surface 4, from which the dough massis caused to be projected downwardly against the side wall, where it is diverted away, from the wallby a diverting roll 14', which is preferably freely rotatable on the shaft '15 and causes the dough to swing back to the agitator, forming, at certain stages of the mixing and kneading ,operation the air spaces 16 and 16a between the walls and the batch of dough. The wall portions diverging from the braking surface 3 leaves in the cooling jacket 6 (Fig.1) an enlargement 60, adapted to holdf 'an especially large amount of the cooling medium next to .these wall portions, with an ample cooling'effect on the doughas it-comes into intimate contact with the surfaces 3 and 4 as just described.

The cooling medium may-be air, gas, water, brine, or othergaseous or liquid coolingagenty and we are not limited to anyspecific kind of coolant, nor to any specific disposition thereof. As shown in, Figs. 1 and7, the jacket 6 or 60 extends around themajor portion of the bottom and sides of'the bowl; and wherever the dough comes in contact'with thebowl walls it becomes subject to the effect of the coolant. Also, where it tends to separate from the wall, as at 16 below the braking portion 3,-air enters between the dough and the wall. The result is a fairly constant cooling effect on the dough throughout the kneading and mixing operation, overcoming the able blade 17 acts, in any given adjusted position,

practically in the same manner as the braking surface :3 of Fig; 1, causing the dough mass brought against it to be folded and to move down to a position, under action of the agitator, where it is diverted back to the agitator by means of the roll-l4 inthe same manner as in the example of Fi 1." In this example of Fig. '2 no cooling jacket is shown, but-it will be understood that it may have such a provision, with slight modifications as a. consequence of the provision of the adjusting nuts 19; and-while the blade 17 in its more downwardly adjusted positions will not allow as intimate contact of the dough mass with the bowl wallbelow the blade 17, it will cause an ample air space 16b. Also, the adjustable mounting of this blade 1'7 maybe varied with conse.

quentpermissible variations in the application of a coolant chamber similar to the enlargement 6a inFi g.. 1.

The example of Figs. 3, 4, and 6 is shown as similar to thatof Fig. 2, although it will be understood that it may be similar to Fig. 1; the modification in this example consisting in the provision for rendering the lower diverting roll 1412, which rotates .on the shaft 15b, either operative as in Figs. 1 and 2, or inoperative, with the intervention of a modified diversion of the dough back to the agitator as it comes down from the upper braking means or=blade 1'7 in the mannerbefore described. For controlling this operation,.a baffie 22b is provided, to be thrown up over the roll 14b as shown by the solid lines in Fig. 3, or down under this roll 14?) as shown by the dotted lines.

The shaft 15bextends out through the bowl wall 21, which has"a,bossg21b in which the shaft is rotatable: The bafiie 221) has arms 23 embracing the'shaft 15b andflxed thereto by pins 230.. The shaft 15b, 'on-its' end part out past the hearing or boss 21b hasa hub 24 fixed on it by a set screw 25a. A handle 25 extends radially from this hub 24 'an'd has an eye 26 (Fig. 6) through which a pin 2'] may project into either one of two holefs*28 and 29 irithe' side'of the bowl, to hold the baffle 14]] in'either'one of the two positions as above described. This baifie 22b is of fiat Sshape to curve convexly over the roll 14b with a concave extension outto the bowl wall, when thebaiile is turned, up over the roll; and to have a concave fit under the rolll4b-and a convex upwardly presented extension from under the roll, facing the path of the agitator blades, when the baffle is turned down, It will be understood that the bafile 221;, by its arms 23; straddles the roll'14b longitudinally of the roll, leaving the roll 14b free 'torotate'on the shaft 15b when contracted by the dough' mass upon; being exposed as the baffle is turned down,-whilethe shaft 151) is free to rotate whenthe pin 27 is withdrawn from the hole 28 or 29,-for turning the baiile up ordo'wn.

In'Fig. 7 the machine is like thatof Fig. 2, ex-

cept that insteadof the roll 14 rotating on the shaft 15,the bowl wall has an indentation transversely of the path-of travel of the dough mass,forming a divertingsurface 7b; this formation being similar to the fixed brakingdevice of Fig. 1 in that wallsof the bowl diverge-outwardly from the'path of travel of theagitator blades. Thus a lowerinwardly diverting'surface is formed which acts like the bafiie 22b when it is turned up and excludes'the roll 14b in Figs-"3, 4, '5 'and 6. Thus the comparison of the example of Figs. 1

and 2, the example of Figs.-'3; 4, 5 and 6, and the present example of Fig. 7, is that inthe first the lower diverting roll 14 always is exposed, in the second the roll 14b may be exposed, with arolling action as the dough passes it, or else covered, with a stationary diverting surface formed by the "covering bafiie 22b, and in the third there is always a stationary diverting surface 7b similar to that formed by the covering baflle 22b in the second example. With this fixed diverting surface the coolant may come' into close proximity to it, as in the enlargement 6d afforded by the formation of this surface, in the coolant jacket 60 in Fig. '7 This is similar to the advantage attained with'the upper braking surface 3 in Fig.

.1, with the enlarged space 60. for coolant. I

- The chief advantage of the upper abutment or braking surface 3 of Fig. 1, or the adjustable brake blade '17 of Fig. 2, is the ability of a straight walled device of this kind to deflect the dough without the tendency totear the same, which is the case when a bar, roller or the like is used, on account of the wrapping of the dough around such a device whichhas a space above and outward'from it between it and the inner wall of the bowling This ismost liablir to nappefi when th dough is' 'thrdwmupa considerable distaiie to 'niendless pathsa bowl icontainingssaidv J: Ward the top and back of the bowl, over seen-a i agitator and an abutmen 'saidibowl outward devier' such wrapping and tearing action is fromand axljustab'l e more pmlessiclbselysatoisai avoided b'y bur inventiom -presen n a surface"F pathif f and having a s'continuatio' .fz'outwardl like the 'p'art 4 in Figf l; or like blade lilin adapt'ed to' "prevent outerifiiporticn -materia1. Figi 2fw-ith" no space into which the dough may movedby saidi agitator. l'a'gainstsfsaid -abutment protrude;'--but from whichflthe dough must of from wrapping around the abhtriientp j 1. 1 1 necessity curl srhoothly back to pass smoothly 5. A nfixin'g ma'chine-:comprising an agitator; down-runder the"braking" surface} where thereai moic'rri'g in anzendle'ss pathsaiibowlicontaining said:;.. no tendency for Wrapping andateai ingfi agitatm, ianrollerirneariani interion wallz-ofi said= ing machine boinprising-van agitators in:

'l'hesle same advantag'esatteird tlre use ofithei-ibovstl nn an axisltransversezltoirsaid pathsyandza;

bafiie 22b over the lower-riall l lblfior the usefiof The choice of use of the roll 14b, exposed, or'the use of the bafiie 22b or the surface 17b, is dictated largely by the nature of the dough being kneaded and mixed. Special doughs containing raisins, fruit and the like do not have the tenacity of the ordinary wheat flour dough, and therefore have a greater tendency to wrap and clog behind the roll, either such as has been used in prior mixers above as a braking means, or as used in Figs. 1 and 2 herein as a diverting roll. But if the ordinary more tenacious doughs are being worked, the function of the roll, especially as a diverting device in the lower part of the bowl, to more effectively retard and divert such dough, which is permissible without clogging, wrapping and tearing, may be made available, in Fig. 2, by swinging the baffle 2212 from over the roll 1417. While a device is shown for swinging this baffle 141) from outside the bowl, it will be understood that means may be provided for manipulating or adjusting the bafile inside the bowl; and this applies also to the means for adjusting the blade or brake 17 in Fig. 2. In Fig. '7, where there is such an adjustable blade or baffle 1'7, and also a coolant jacket not provided in Fig. 2, the part 6e of the jacket is recessed to permit access to the nut 19 for adjustment of the blade or baffle 17.

A number of examples, with various combinations of the several novel features of our invention, are disclosed herein, and these are rather specifically illustrated and described. However, it will be understood that other variations in the shape, arrangement and mode of movement or action of parts may occur in practice, and that we are not limited to such precise disclosure, but what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: t

l. A mixing machine comprising an agitator moving in an endless path. a bowl containing said agitator, and elements in said bowl having a junction near said path and extending in diverse directions outward from said junction, one of said elements being adjustable on the other element inward toward and outward away from said path.

2. A mixing machine comprising an agitator moving in an endless path, a bowl containing an agitator, and elements in said bowl having a junction near said path and extending in diverse directions outward from said junction, one of said elements being adjustable on the other element inward toward said path and outward away from said path, and having a convex surface next to said path.

3. A mixing machine comprising an agitator moving in an endles path, a bowl containing said agitator, and an abutment in said bowl outward from and near said path, having an outward continuation adapted to prevent outer protions of material moved by said agitator against said abutment from wrapping around the abutment.

venting surface 171) position-between said-roller and-saidpath:outpastzos direction of advance of said agitator, and movable out of said position.

6. A mixing machine comprising an agitator moving in an endless path, a bowl containing said agitator, a roller near an interior wall of said bowl on an axis transverse to said path, and a deflecting cover for said roller extending from a. position between said roller and said path out past saiderollencati its isidegfacingi'oppositelyb'to the ;.1-5

said roller at its side facing oppositely to the cent to said path for momentarily retarding material thrown outward from said path and comprising a surface against which the outer portion of said thrown-out material abuts when retarded, preventing wrapping of said outer portion of the material around the retarding means so as to avoid tearing thereof as the material is withdrawn after its momentary diversion.

,8. A mixing machine comprising an agitator and a bowl containing said agitator, having efiective wall surfaces extended in toward the path of action of said agitator and outward away from said path, a roller succeeding said wall surfaces in the direction of action of said agitator, on an axis transverse to said path, and means. adjustable to slant inward across said roller toward'said path in the direction of said action, or to extend beyond said roller in said direction, out from between said roller and said path.

9. In a mixing machine comprising a bowl and an agitator moving in saidbowl, a baflie in said bowl adjacent to the path of said agitator, defining successive paths traveled by material carried with and thrown out by said agitator, said bafile having an area facing across a major outer portion of the path of approach of the material to the bafiie, to force the material inward in an intact mass as it passes said baiile to the next path, and means for varying the extent of said area.

10. In a mixing machine comprising a bowl and an agitator moving said bowl, said bowl having parts of its walls diverging outwardly from a junction adjacent to the path of said agitator, defining successive paths traveled by material carried with and thrown out by said agitator, one wall part having an area forming a baflie facing across a major outer portion of the path of approach of the material to said wall part, said bowl having a space exteriorly, between the diverging wall parts, and means forconfining a cooling medium in said space.

11. In a mixing machine comprising a bowl and an agitator moving in said bowl, said bowl-having tator, and forming a corresponding hollow por tion in the exterior of said bowl adjacent tojthe battle, and meansfor confining acooling medium a a formed inwardly and so located-asto constitute an abutment in said bowloutward from and near said path,"having an outward continuation adaptin said hollow portion.

12. A mixing machine'comprising an agitatorl moving in an'endless path, and a bowl containing said agitator, aj portioniot the wall of said bowl" said agitator against said abutment from wrappingaround the, abutment. i

being projected inwardly at such a locationxand in such form asto constitutean abutment in said'.

bowl outward from and neartsaid path, having an outward continuation adaptedto,preventouter abutment. Y

13. A mixing maehine comprising an agitator movingin an endless path, and a bowl containing said agitator, said bowl having a wall formed of relatively thin material, a portion of which is so ;ed to prevent outerportions of material moved-by i-FRANK X. LAUI'ERBUR.

EDWARD J. LAUTERBUR; 

